.CH85 

J,805G 



I 



AN 



ORATION, 

PRONOUNCED, 

AT THE REQUEST OF THE » CHARLESTOJVN LIGHT INFANTRY^ 

BEFORE THE 

Republican Ctttjens! of Cfiarieftoton, 

ON THE 

ANNIVERSART 

OF 

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, 

July 4, 1805. 



BY BENJAMIN GLEASON. 



« WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES." ConJRtution. 

■« Th6 glory of Soldiers cannot be completed, without a<aing well the part 

of Citizens." Cincinnatu 

« It is Education, ivhich teaches us to honor FORCE more than FINESSE." Jefferson. 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY TRUE ^ PARKS, 
1805. 



CSARLESTOlFN, JULY 4, 1805. 

V0T£D, unanimously, by the Republican Citizens of Charlejiawu, 
that their thanks be prefented Mr. Benjamin Gleason, for liis patri- 
otic, animated and impreffive Oration, delivered before them this day, and 
that they requeft a copy of the fame for the prefs. 

JOHN HARRIS, Chairman tf Cmmttee. 



GENTLEMEN, 

WHILE the grateful and patriotic AfFedlions find a Covert, 
the heart ;--the/>/*«Am of Duty ever reward the obedient hand. 

Yeurs, &c. 

B, GLEASON. 

July % 1^05. 



AN 



^^ ORATION. 






•yf 



*i^ 



Virtue is i\iefotd of a Republican Gov- 
ernment ; — ^and truly great and generous are thofe 
fpirits, which feel and exercife the exalted Principle. 

Liberty is the birthright, and Equality of Rights 
the inconteftable privilege of Man \— Sacred to the 
Citizens of our United States, be all their bleflings ! 

Sacred to the prefent generation, and to ail poflerity, 
be " The Daf we celebrate : — ^be it confecrated to 
the memory of " former times ;" — to the remembrance 
of" mighty deeds ;" — and to the prefervation of thofe 
« principles," which warmed the pure blood of our 
Fathers : — to be perpetuated down, through the long 
lapfe of ages, a Jubilee of Joy, Union, and Glory. 

Our Republic — the Fabric of our Independence, 
ftill exifts ! — The Republics of the elder world have 
long fmce ceafed their continuance; — all fwallowed up, 
in abfolute power, or abfolute ruin ! 

Our feveral ftate governments, united in a national 
body politic^ comipoie one grand confederated Re pub- 
j^ic ; — a Union, which ftands unrivalled, among all 
the fyftems of government, throughout the habitable 
regions of the Earth ; and we, its Citizens — indeed 
Republicans, — not in fancy, but in fa6l^ are moft fu- 
premely bleft ! 



The prefent occafion affords an opportunity to elu- 
cidate, and fubftantiate this pleafing reahty. Look 
through all Africa ; from Grand Cairo^ to Tangier^ 
and from Tangier to the Cape of Good Hope : — through 
all the diverfity of tribes, from the Copts and Mame- 
luks in Egypt, to the black Inhabitants of Senegambia ; 
to the Hottentot, at the Cape : you find no organized 
Republic — no free-born Republican of a free and dif- 
tinguifhed Country. 

Look through ail Asia ; and you behold all the 
mighty wheels of Efnpire, xoWing at large, like Comets, 
in boundiefs fpace, difconnefted with fyftem, confum- 
ing and confumed, with their own ^res : wandering 
in hordes, and preying on all oppofmg obftacles ; or 
walled in Cities, ever waiting the iflue of Battle ! — * 
Among the Clans of the former, abjedl poverty and 
defpotifm ! — Among the Governments of the latter, def- 
potifm, opulence, avarice, indigence, and flavery ! 

Europe prefents an ajfemblage of character, — a group 
offcenes, — a budget of curiofities, — a prolixity of events, 
— a Picture, which is variegated, with almofl every 
hue, and colour of diverfified Life. 

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Rujfia exhibit, in 
their national and political characters, no bright and 
glorious traits of Republicanifm. — The Norwegian 
principle is perhaps too much incafed in Climate ; — 
every chieftian, at Stockholm, is not a Gustavus Va- 
SA ; — Copenhagen flill points the cannon of the Mole, 
to the exadion of tribute ; — a Ruffian numbers his 
Haves, by the multitude of his roubles : — the Baltic 
wafhes all their fhores, and will perhaps, for ages yet 
to come, never feel the grateful breezes of Freedom. 



Poland Is called a Republic^ but in its bofom, lives 
an hereditary Ariftocracy. Its Kofciujkos ileep beyond 
the bourne of Life ; and the Siiwarrow fpirits, already 
gorged, in madnefs and blood, (land ready waiting at 
its portals, to rufti in, all terrible with havoc, llaugh- 
ter, and ruin, at their grand feflival of anticipated 
Rebellion ! 

The Circles of Germany^ though compofing a con- 
vention of great political Interefts, in their National 
Diet, — Imperial Cities^ with an Imperial Emperor^ at 
their head, yet fall far fhort of a firm and free Re- 
public, 

What a difference between the peafant of //^^w^/g'ry, 
and the Republican Farmer of New-England I — be- 
tween their heyducks and huffars^ and the Infantry and 
Cavalry in our great, refpedable, and invincible 
Militia ! 

Holland^ fmce the great confederation of Utrecht^ 
boafts itfelf a Republic ; but in its States-General there 
is more than a pure democratic reprefentation of the 
United Provinces : — it contains an hereditary StadthoU 
derfhip ! 

Switzerland^ whofe Cantons enriched by the hand 
of Induftry, fmile with plenty ; affording a fit refidence 
for a vigorous, free, and happy people. Switzerland 
ever confidered a Republic^ in the Helvetic Union, is 
too often fubjeded to the controling authorities of 
Ariftocracy and Ufurpation. 

Geneva, once the ally of the Swifs, knows but the 
flu6:uating thrills of Liberty ; not the glory of be- 
ing a permanent i^^/)?/M^. 

The Government of the Genocfe more refembles their 



Jhieid executed by Vacche, than the Republican Gov- 
ernment under which we have the happinefs to live. 

Venice is faid to be one of the moft celebrated Re' 
publics in the world, and is perhaps one of the moft 
perfect and powerful Ariftocracies on Earth ! This 
facl has been well attefted, by even their Doges them- 
felves ; too often the devoted vidims to the infcruta- 
ble operations of the minijlerial Cabinet ! 

Italy ^ hewn up into fo many ftates and kingdoms, 
with fo many oppofite, conflicting and complicated in- 
terefts, can never become a united and lafting Repub* 
lie. 

Look at the Defpotic ftate of Spain : their Cortes^ 
or Parliaments^ are the moft harmlefs things in Na- 
ture ; a mere fplendid etiquette to Royalty ; without 
power ! without privilege ! without pretenfion ! 

Portugal is a fifter in the fame connexion, and their 
Government, like the Government of Spain, as con- 
trafted with that of our United States, is a ftanding 
monument of impoveriftied Often tation ! and preem- 
inent Infignificance ! 

France, after it had exifted a monarchy, upwards of 
1200 years, was by the National AJfembly, in a repre- 
fentation from its 92 departments, declared a Republic! 
How true this declaration is, in £ad, you yourfelves 
are judges. A Corfican, abfolute in Authority, and 
nearly thirty millions of people to obey his imperial 
pleafure ! — a government hereditary ! — France — ^not 
a Republic ! 

It may have been faid that Great-Britain boafts a 
Conftitution, which is, in its nature and effedls, the 
moft perfect model of all Governn\ents : ^* the moft 






ftupendous fabric of human invention :" Grant it 
bears the fefnblance^ — it is not the fubjiance : it is but 
the Jhadings and outlines ; not the full piSlure^ the per- 
fedl glory of a free and united Republic ! 

England compared with the United States, is much 
like the ark of the Covenant^ in comparifon with the 
Temple of Solomon ; but in its Creeds and Deeds, it has been 
much like the Giant ofthePhiliJlines, in competition 
with the little ruddy David of Ijrael ! Its whole 
head is now fick ! its whole heart is faint ! . its deflruc- 
tion it is feared is inevitable ! On their " Land's End^'^ 
may, at fome future day, be reared a Beacon, to warn 
againfl approaches to that mighty Pit, where Hes the 
wrecked, and ruined glory of Old England I — While 
America young, vigorous, glorious, and happy, will af- 
ford an Afylum to the perfecuted of all Nations, and 
Ihield them ever, under the banners of Liberty, Prof- 
perity, and Peace ! 

Upon the continent this fide the great waters of the 
Atlantic, the devouring talons of infatiable ambition, 
once ufurped the power to prey, ravage, wade, and 
deflroy. Earthquake, Ternpeft, Inundation, and 
Flames have been rivalled by daring and ufurping 
man ! The blood flained traces of a Cortes and a 
PiZARRo, carrying depredation in one hand, and defo- 
lation in the other, flill are and ever will be vifibly de- 
lineated, on the charts of South America* 

The altars of a Republic can never rife or ftand fe- 
cure, on a bafis of blood -, but if founded on the im- 
perifhabie principles of Integrity, Honour and Glory ; 
when the rites of Freedom mud be confecrated with 
blood, its flirines are cleanfed from all pollution, by 
the potent fires of Heaven. 



8 

On fuch an imperifliable bafis, fland the altars of 
our own Country ; venerated by the patriot, and the 
friend of Man ; and having been once confecrated by 
blood, they fhall be defended^ though it be even by 
the blood of our Father's Children, and Children's 
children — down to the remotell generations. 

No part of America; no part of the known popu- 
lated world, {lands fo preeminent in Glory, in Princi- 
ple, in ReptibUcan Virtue^ as thefe our United States^ 
they are indeed a Republic I and we — Citizens of this 
free and happy Country, indeed — Republicans ! 

Be it ever our ambition to defend, preferve, and 
perpetuate the Conjlituted Rights of our Country ; to 
fupport our Constitution, which is proverbially 
called the '' Palladium of our Liberties ;^* to refped: 
our Rulers ; to remember with gratitude, the exer- 
tions of our Fathers ; and to tranfmit, unimpaired and 
laden with accumulating honours, the exalted Princi- 
ple, which has immortalized their names. 

On this all important Day, — Memory walks its med- 
itative round, among the multitude of glorious deeds 
effeded by our Fathers. " The Mind's Eye" con- 
templates, with infinite delight, the unfhaken firmnefs, 
the fteady virtues, the immortal bravery of our fages, 
our patriots, and our heroes : and often paufmg, at 
the warrior's tomb, where fleep the great and good, 
all covered with laurels ; — 

" oh ! how beautiful is Death, when earn'd by virtue." 

There flands the fmiling Angel of Peace — 

Guarding, with holy rites, the Hero's bourne, 
Guiding their fpirits onward, never to return. 

The guardian Angel of our Union has already in- 



fcribed, upon the records of Eternity — Ever/acred to 
pojierity^ be the remembrance of Times -pafi I andbethi^ 
Day hallowed^ with Life* s fublimefi fympathy ! 

In the retrofpedion of pad times, we behold a won- 
derful concatenation of Events, which led on ultirnate- 
ly to the eftablifhment of American Independence I 

" While Memory holds her mental feat," may we 
never forget thofe, to whom, we Hand indebted for 
our Freedom, with all its concomitant advantages ; 
and while Gratitude warms the human breaft, may 
our hearts cherifh the noble principles of Republican 
Virtue^ in connedion with the dearefl affedions and 
felicities of Life. 

May our fair Sijiers liflen to the tales of Old Ti??7es^ 
with pleafure; give a tear to departed worth ; 2i f??iile to 
merit ; and applaud with generous hearts, the truly 
virtuous fentiments of thofe Times, which "tried men's 
fouls''- — as in crucibles of political Afflidion ! 

May our Fathers^ who ftill live, and who this day 
witnefs our grateful affedions, our zealous attach- 
ment to the caufe oi Liberty^ and our refolution to 
defend and proted the Rights of Man, while they 
behold their children around them, rifmg up " to call 
them bleffed ;" may they feel the aiTurances of a blef- 
fed immortality ! They fhall be immortal in the af- 
fedions of their Children IJ 

While we retrofped the rough viciffitudes of War, 
?nd regard, with due confideration, the fcene of Bat- 
fe ; may the thrillings of fublime fenfation pervade 
[me heart, vibrating to every tone of RecoUedion-^ — 
Behold ! 

A'ggrejfion followed on after aggrejfion. Prohibition 
B 



t 



10 

'diicrpro/jibilion. 'i'hejtar/ip act* 'I'he tnajjacrc* The tea" 
traffic, liliQ'-'Bq/lonport-billJ^ Impofitions and per- 
fecutions. — Thefe were the high-handed infults offered 
the people ofthefc United States^ particularly the State of 
Maffacbufeiis^ while yet a Colony, by his Sovereign Ma- 
jejiy the King ! " defender of the faith !*' and the Su- 
prerne authorities of the Court of Great Britain ! — And 
thefe perfecutions were anfwered by Remonjlrance after 
Remonftrance : petition after petition : but the evil in- 
creafed : oppofition then became a i?/g-/6/ ; and refiftance, 
Lavj ; then courage became a Virtue ; and refolu- 
tion, Glory f — " Arms become jufl and facred to thofe 
who have no other refource :" — The flandards of 
Liberty were erected, on the high hills of Maffachu- 
fetts ! — Thoufands rallied around them in arms ! — 
Heaven attefled the fad ! — and the " God of Ar- 
mies^^ fmiling complacent, bid Atnerica be free I 

See, a gathering florm appears at Leechmore's 
point, — eight hundred troops have landed ! They 
open their v/ay to Concord^ to deftroy our military 
ftores, and to fecure the profcrihed patriots, — Han- 
cock, and Adams ! Then Lexington recorded a 
fcene memorable in the hiftory of our country. 

*' Difperfe ye rebels /" cries Pitcairn. — Death or 
LiBERTT, *' exclaim our undaunted, patriotic Country, 
men. The fcene was cruel ! Skirmifh, confufion, and 
death pave their way from Concord. Lord Piercy 
appears with a relief of nine hundred recruits ; a brok- 
en retreat is made ; the warm fpirits of our yankee 
brethren purfue them fcatteringly ; but with revenge- 
ful havoc, to the very ground, where now we celebrate 
our Independence. 



1 1 

The alarm is fpread ! Gage trembks with his 
mighty men of war in our metropohs 1 

I fee the arms of our Citizens taken by a collvfion ! 
I fee their fufferings, but they fcorn to complain ! — 
Their profpefts fhall be ferene ! Their native town is 
now befieged, with 20,000 of their brave country- 
men, demanding fatisfadion, for their injured rights. 

Flere, within a war-whoop call, fat in pompous Hate 
the Britifh Myrmidons, Ho we^Burgoyne, Clinton, 
and Gage ; — iffuing proclamations, and deciding up- 
on the fate of our Country, and the lives of our Citi- 
zens. — The Britijh martial laws are in operation ! — 
O ! think of the diftreffes of thofe times ;— all is lamen- 
tation, horror and diflraclion ! 

See ! — ^your brave countrymen throwing up en- 
trenchments, on Bunker* s Hill! The enemy advanc- 
ing, with the progrefs of the Sun, — all is loft I — ^No I — 
livid Death rufhes down their ranks dreadful and 
tremendous. — They retreat ! our Countrymen victo- 
rious ! — No ! They rally ! — They return ! — Again 
all is confufion, ihrieks and fliouts : — again bravely re- 
pulfed : — They retreat : — Victory ! — No ! — wrought 
up to a degree of defperation — great in numbers, — 
pomp and power, they furioufly put forward ! — O i 
God — temper, with mercy, the preponderating fcale 
of war ! — Spare — Spare our brethren. Warren 
falls ! — Relief- — ammiinition fail ! Convulfed, our coun- 
trymenmake thelafl ftruggle ! — Charlejioivn in fames I 
Howe yet trembles in dubious conteft. I fee the in- 
tereft felt univerfal, all round the hemifphere of vifion. 
— ^The enemy have reared the flandard of vi6tory ; 
but in exaltation, triumph the Americans! — Thofe take 



* 12 

pofleflion of the Hill ; — ^but our Warren, our Court- 
trymen of immortal glory ! — 

The next war fcene difcovers the Green-Mountain 
boys^ at Ticonderoga^ under the command of General 
Allen^ — demanding a furrender " in the name of the 
great Jehovah, and the Continental Congrefs.*' — The 
key to Canada is fecured to the Americans. — 

A regular army is now eflabliflied, and its Chief h 
the illuftrious Washington. 

The next fcene difcovers the heroic Montgomery^ at 
the head of his troops, — flruggling againft double the 
number of the enemy, — fecuring the out pofts, and 
cities of refuge belonging to the Englifh. — He fell glo- 
rious in battle, fighting for Liberty ! 

Norfolk and Falmouth now lie fmoking in ruins ! 

About this time, rofe thofe aflonifhing heights^ at 
Dorchejter. Howe and his army in trepidation, quit 
our Capital— they fear the invincible fpirits of the 
Americans.— Our beloved Washington enters Bof 
ion triumphant ! Parent — Brother, and Friend, again 
meet and are happy ! — 

Congrefs publifh their Declaration of American 
Independence^ Qvily 4^^ 1776) which cut afunder the 
bond of connexion, and feparated America^ from 
Great-Britain forever ! 

See! — next 2XNeW'Tork^ Washington and Howe 
in competition. — 

See the American Soldiers, driven from Tork-Jfl- 
and^ and retreating through the Jerfeys — difheartened 
and almofl hopelefs. — Rhode-ljland is loft, taken by 
Clinto}2,-^Lof[es^ defeat, ficknefs, and death — the four 
Elements of prefent mifery, darken with conflifting 



IS 

tempefts, the prefent dreary fcene. — The northern ar- 
my reduced from 25,000 to 3000 men, is in a man- 
ner no more : — to add the laft aggravation, by a 
ftrange imprudence. General Lee is captured by a 
party of Britijh Light Horfe. 

It was on the Evening of the 25th of December, 
1776, that Washington^ great in misfortune, as he 
was good in character, turned the tide of War, and 
" revived the defponding hopes o^ America, '^^ He pafTes 
from Pennfyhania — croiTes the Delaware in a florm, 
arrives at Trenton^ captures the Heffian troops — gains 
a fignal victory — faves his Country ! — The gallant 
Mercer dies, but the patriot lives, in eternal remem- 
brance ! 

Soon after Tryon cari'ies fire and fword into Connec- 
ticut^ — at Danbury^ the brave Woojier fell ! 

Pradlifing the policy of the Englijh^ in taking Gib' 
raltar^ the heroic Col, Barton takes the Englifh Gene- 
ral Pre/cot naked, from his quarters in Rhode-ljland. 

See ! — the mighty champion — Burgoyne — now ad- 
vances with 10,000 men ; many were the brave and 
worthy, who rofe in powerful oppofition. — Gates leads 
on the Americans^ and Burgoyne* s whole army at Sar- 
atoga yield prifoners of War. This was glorious for 
you, my Country. The tears of afflidion are now 
fucceeded, by the fmiles of joy and fatisfadion. 

See now the Engliih forces proudly failing up the 
Che/apeak! The heights of Brandywine are lined 
with a Wajhingtonian oppofition ; but the Americans' 
lofs is great : Philadelphia and Germantown witnefs 
fimilar fcenes : the Britifh loffes balance it, preferving 
the equipoife of war. 



f4 

The year 1778 is dlftinguiftied by a treaty of Alli- 
ance with Fra7ice. 

Monmouth is rendered memorable by our Soldiers' 
fuccefles. Rhode-ljland the fame. 

Conflagration flill marks the footfteps of the Britijh, 

At St oney -pointy our Countrymen, led on by Wayne ^ 
are vidorious ! — at Penobfcot they are unfortunate. 
Again, at Savannah^ Lincoln and Count d* EJiaing re- 
pulfed with lofs ; here fell the " brave foldier," Pti* 
lajki ! Again, at Charlejion^ Lincoln taken : again, at 
Camden^ Gates and his troops routed with lofs. The 
Britifh marauders now ravage our Country, like hun- 
gry tygers ! 

Rochamheau arrives ! — General Green takes com- 
mand at the fouthward, and is fuccefsful. 

Guildford commemorates the beft fought adion 
during the war ; Green and Cornwallis in oppofition. 
The Eutaw Springs are commemorative of American 
fucceffes. Marquis De la Fayette^ be thy virtues in 
remembrance, while Liberty has charms ! 

Cornwallis is now blocked up at York-Town by 
Count de Grajfe. Washington arrives ! Cornwallis 
furrenders ! The contefl is decided ! America is free! 

Peace rifes to view, like the Sun emerging from the 
laft waftings and defolating bowlings of a ftorm, and 
Liberty is all our own ! 

The Britilh evacuate all their pofls. They take 
their laft ftand at New-Tork, Guy Carleton comes 
over their commander ^ and treaties of Peace, Friend- 
SHIP and Alliance, clofe the eventful fcene ! 

Thus, Gentlemen, conceiving it my duty, I have 
paffed with you mentally over the vaft theatre of the 



15 

world. You have had a curfory glance at the vari- 
ous modes and forms of Government, in their various 
relations and operations throughout the Earth. 

You have feen the Republics of Europe^ as they now 
exift, and by contrafl and illuftration, how glorious, 
how preeminent, the Republic of the United States I 
reared by our fathers, cemented with their bell blood ; 
and to be perpetuated in republican union forever ! 

Thus have we walked mentally over the terrific field 
of carnage, devaflation, and death. '"The Day," 
we celebrate, is defigned ever to be commemorative 
of thefe great events. Our fubjed: is our Indepent 
dence! and it is glorious for pofterity, on fuch a 
Day as this, to remember with gratitude the mighty 
Deeds by which, with the blefling of Heaven, our 
Freedom was obtained. 

The recital can never fatigue the Patriot^ the Re- 
publican^ whofe heart glows with love to his fellow 
man, to his Country^ and to his God. No ! it is juf- 
tice to elder times ! it is honour ! it is glory ! to blefs 
the memory of our fathers ; to drink of the fountain 
of their feelings ; and to feel, within us, 2.fpirity like 
theirs, invi?icible ! immortal I 

Peace contrafted with War, now appears like the 
circuits of Elyfium ; contrafted with the trophies and 
caroufals in the halls o£ Woden » The darkenine^ clouds 
difperfe! the hYighinek of Freedom's Day beams forth 
in tenfold luftre ! 

How pleafant, how grateful the profped ! Liber- 
rr vefted in the robes of Honour^ and plumed with 
immortal Glory : — radiant as an Angel of Light, and 
illuftrious as Truth and Virtue* — -Yes ! LiBEurr now 



t 



16 '^' 

fits triumphantly enthroned, in the Temple of Peace !-^ 
On either hand the arms of our Country, with the 
perpetual memento " E plurihus UnurrH^ — " united 
: WE STAND y DIVIDED WE FALL^^ — and its vidorious 
Standards, crefted with the Spread Eagle of America^ 
an emblem of refolution, preeminence, invincibility. 

Often may we recal to mind the wonderful inter- 
pofitions of Divine Providence, in the prefervation of 
our Country — our Rights — and our Liberty — the mod 
invaluable blefling of Life. 

Hijiory^ ever faithful, will repeat the ftory to a thou- 
fand generations, yet to come, and on fuch a Day^ as 
this, fhall it be told them, for a thoufand fejiivals in 
fucceffion : — that their ancient fathers once lived 
be3rond the great waters, which wafh their native 
fhores : — that they were perfecuted, and injured in 
the Rights of Confcience, among their own breth- 
ren and kin : — that they fled, and fought among ftran- 
gers the free exercife of thofe privileges, authorifed 
by Nature, and fandtioned by Nature^ s God : — that 
Perfecution (till fpread its terrors and tumults around 
them : — that then, refolute to their purpofe, they 
arofe to a man, let their feals to the Charter of Liber- 
■fy : — left the old world : — crolTed the Atlantic, with 
various adverfe fortune : — found an afylum : — and in a 
world new and unexplored — eftablifhed themfelves by 
*' folemn contract," a People— -free — and indiviftble!-^— 
zealous for good works ! and in fpirit and principle 
—worthy the name of man ! — That centuries had not 
pafled, ere an immenfe territory was covered with 
an immenfe population, furrounded with all the pro- 
duQIons of the Ocean and the Land ; — and that prof- 



17 

perity 5 felicity, and Liberty 5 — from the cottage hamlet, 
to the fplendid habitations of State and Empire; — from 
the vafl chain of Northern Lakes, to the Southern re- 
gions ;— -and from the great Weftern River, to the 
mighty waters of the Eafl — univerfaliy prevailed 1 

That War once molefted the peace and happinefs 
of our Country-- O ! ivar^ hateful, bakful^manunotJjfav- 
age ! — when we pray for thee, as much as we pray for the 
kindly rains of heaven — may our latter fupplication h6 
the moji fuccefsful, and bring down upon thee, fuch a 
deftroying Deluge as to whelm, drown, and bury thee, 
and thy fuppliants forever. Yes, my Country, that 
war once defolated thy fields — deflroyed thy fair cit- 
ies — prowled and gorged in Battles and in Blood ! — 
and with the fword, the mufquet, and the hot lava, 
fwimming from the cannon's mouth, once facrificed 
the noblefl vidims, that ever paid devotions at the 
fhrine of Liberty : — that Independence, like Hercu- 
les m his cradle, knotted the Serpent, and hurled him 
to the middle regions of the air ! — the fall was de- 
ftru£lion ! — war ceafed ! — and America was free ! 

Thus fhall " The Baf^ remind the generations of 
Men, of the principle which ennobled and dignified 
the fpirits of their Fathers ; of the elfeds of that prin- 
ciple — a row/^-- -fupremely glorious to our Coun- 
try ; — a preeminent " rank among the Nations of the 
Earth j" — a Government free ; — a Republic the ad- 
miration of mankind ;— and a Vnion perpetual ! 

Hail ! Peace, angel of celeftial glory, thine are the 

virtues and the blilTes of Life. It is thee, gentle and 

merciful Peace, who fiUefl our hearts with gratitude, 

our abodes with blefling, and our paths with Honour. 

C 



IS 

Dwell with us ever, in aii thy angelic purity and per- 
fections ; preferving the Conftitutions, proteding the 
Rights, fecuring the Advantages, and eonfecrating the 
Altars of our Country. 

To the " long and arduous confliQ:" of war, fuc- 
ceeded t\\e feveriteen years of fuccefsful Administra- 
tion ; — at the head of which, the free juffrages of a 
free People have fucceflively placed — George Wash- 
ington. John Adams. Thomas Jefferson. 

Fair lot of Mount Vernon — Father of thy Country ! — « 
Thy lleep is not the fleep of Death, for thy memory 
ever lives, in the living hearts of thy Countrymen — it 
mingles with our remembrance of forrow, and with 
our generous effufions of joy. — Thine immortality is 
double : — thou art immortal on Earth ! — thou art 
immortal in Heaven ! Be thou our Guardian Spirit, 
— and may thy memory perpetuate, among us, thofe 
focial and political affe6lions and felicities, which en- 
hance and enrich the exiftence of man. 

Woolafton — to remember thee as a man, detached 
from all unpleafant^ political confiderations, we feel it 
our duty to fay : — thy name (hall be borne to Pofterity, 
with benedidion : and ere a thoufand moons fhall 
have finifhed their courfes, when we who now Uvey 
fhall all lleep embofomed in the dufl: of our mother 
Earth : when the ebullitions and animofities of party 
fhall fubfide and be forgotten — then fliall thy name 
fland brilliant and refpeclable on the pages of eternal 
Hiflory. 

Sage of Monticello. — Loved and revered by the wife 
and good. — Thy Country's friend, and the friend of 
man. — ^Endowed with faperior wifdom, dignity, and un- 



ID 

derflanding. Faithful to the intereil of thy conlfi- 
tuents : — unimpeachable, powerful, and perfuafive, — ■ 
thy Country holds thee in veneration ! 

Founding Religion, on the baiis of Toleration, and 
political Law, upon Reason : — giving purity and fta- 
bility to the fpirit of the Conflitution, and divefting 
Government of all fuperfiuous formalities : — blend- 
ing juftice and refpe lability, with all our forenfic con- 
cerns : — unburthening the oppreffion of the Times, 
and diminifhing the mailes of national embarraffment 
and expenditure : — multiplying the advantages of a 
free People : — inftituting wholefome regulations, at 
home, and honourable negociations abroad : — treat- 
ing infolence according to its deferts, and leaving 
malecontents to the pubUc Indignation :— encouraging 
Commerce^ Agriculture^ Manufadures^^ and the Arts and 
Sciences : — adhering to the maxims — " viilliom for 
defence ^hut not a cent for tribute*^ — "Peace, Commerce, 
and honefl Friendfhip with all nations ; entangling 
alliances with none :" — fuch are thy virtues, 'vener- 
ahle^ illufirious Jefferson, 

Since the Declaration of Independ^jice^ America 
has progrefled to an eminence of political refpe^tabili- 
ty, not even furpalTed by the ancient RepubHcs of 
Greece and Rome, The Republic of the United States, 
at this day, ftands unrivalled and peerlefs, among its 
lifter Nations of the Earth ; and its glory, and its fame 
excite the admiration of the world. 

Who, but muft reverence the fpirit oiWhigifm^ and 
*75y — that well underftands the caufes and effeds of 
things. — The moft humble philofophy will teach us 
the value of that nature, which ads like itfelf 



20 

Whether man reclines, on the banks of the Indus, 
or haunts the wild deferts of Gingira^ flill Liberty is 
dear to him ; — and may we, who live in a Country, fur- 
rounded on all fides with the richeft and mofl flu- 
pendous fcenery of Nature, ever delight to exhibit 
and behold, in the American character, the firmnefs 
and ferenity, the grandeur and fublimity, thefe fcenes 
difcover. 

In War^ our Father s have left us examples worthy 
of imitation, in the like cafes of necelTity. 

In Feace^ they have taught us the Culture of the 
Soil, Navigation, and Commerce, and the improve- 
ments of Mechanifm ! 

May we, Children of fuch Fathers, ever prove our- 
felves worthy of our honourable connexion ! 

Among the traditions and hieroglyphics of the East, 
there is one mofl admirably adapted to our prefent 
purpofe. 

It reprefents a vifion of Cyrus ^ King of Perfia, at the 
time when the Children of Ifrael, were captives a- 
mong the Chaldeans. Cyrus lies in a pavilion afleep. 
A Lion is in the a6t of rufhing from his den to feize 
his prey. Above, is reprefented a Divine Glory, raft- 
ing on a cloud, from which defcends an Eagle to 
Cyrus^ carrying in his beak this label, " Give Liberty 
to the Captives /'* 

What a beautiful allegory this, as applicable to the 
captivity of our Countrymen at Tripoli ; Tripoli, gre^t 
in felf pride, Jleeps infenfible itfelf to the charms of 
Liberty. A marine force, as with the mighty ftrength 
of the Lion, rifes in view, formidable and refolute. The 
Divine Glory, from above, proteds the American Eagle^ 



r 



21 

which, under the dire£lion of Heaven, defcending, 
proclaims, " Liberty to the Captives /" — and they fhall 
be free ! It is the declaration of our Country — It is 
the afleveration of Preble ! — Our tears, and our feel- 
ings this Day are the prices of their Redemption, — ^they 
fhall return, and be infolded again in their Country's 
affections with everlafling rejoicing. 

This is the only f ombre fhade in the brilliancy of 
The Day ! all elfe around is delightful, grateful, and 
happy I Ours are the BlefTmgsof a free religion^ to 
lead the mind from " Nature up to Nature's God 1" 
The blefTmgsof a/r^^ government^ to make us hap- 
py in our political conne6lions ! The bleffingsof a/r^^ 
trade^ to afford us all the advantages of life ! The 
bleffings of 2^ free and firm administration^ to make 
us wife and valliant, diilinguifhed, patriotic, and prof- 
perous ! The bleffings of zfree andfocial friendship^ 
to improve our habits — to enhance the value of exifl- 
ence — and to eternize the age ! The bleffings of the 
j)AY—free^ for all the purpofes of focial, political, and 
refigious Devotion ! The blejfings^ — ^but where do 
they end ? — O, happy, happy People ! — thrice happy, 
my Country. — The very Ocean is faftened by a thou- 
fand flreams to thy foil, and feems, on this glorious 
occafion, to participate in thy happinefs ! 

The peals of Ordnance, which, this day, echo to 
the clouds, make an acceptable report of our tranf- 
actions ! nor chime our bells, nor beats the drum, nor 
fly our colours in vain — they are all demonflrative of 
fuperior defight, and joy. 

Our Country is, this Day^ like one vafl Camp with- 



22 

in its fpacious lines of Entrenchment :— or if you 
pleafe ; — Like one great Republican Marquee^ fttuated 
in the training fields of Liberty^ and though our en- 
campments are made in different pofitions, as looking 
on a map, we behold the order, pleafure, and magni- 
ficence of the fplendid fcene. Cheerfulnefs pervades 
our affociations, and peace, unity, and plenty prefide, 
in fmiles and joys, around the feftive board. 

Long may thefe bleflings and felicities be ours. 
Long may the unadulterated. Republican fpirit, which 
warms our bofoms, in the caufe of Liberty^ — ^be our 
boafl and pride. 

Long may the principles of Republican Virtue exift. 
Long may our hearts feel refpeftful, generous, and 
adive, in the great Interefls of our Country. — Long 
as yonder hills ftand firm upon their bafes — long as 
the names of Washington^ and Jefferson^ fhall be 
known — long as our Country continues a virtuous 
Republic. 



Citizen Soldiers I 

Your requefl is complied with, your commands 
are obeyed. The Republics of the world, and the mofl 
prominent interefls, and concerns of our common 
Country, have even now paffed in review before you ; 
— and by a reverfed march " the bay^^ this, which 
ftands at the head of the whole feries of events — fol- 
lows lafl in the train. 

This Day is your Anniverfary ! — A Day — ^fa* 
cred to Liberty ! facred to our political Rights ! and 
facred to focial Fejiivity ! - 



23 

Be it ever hallowed, and joyous, throughout your 
generations. Political diJiinElions work no ferious evil. 

The Anniversary of American Independence ihall be 
forever kept, in grateful sand glorious commemoration. 
•'^* A Union of fentiment, and feeling muft obtain, and do 

honor to the Day — Encouraged by the fmiles, and at- ' 
tentions of the Fair — the soldier^ particularly muft 
delight to do his duty on fuch an honorary occafion ! 

It is the pride of an Americun foldier that he is a C///- 
'z.en — and that a Citizen is not a minion — to lick the 
duft at the outer fteps of a Grandee's Court ; or live, 
under regular difcipline, 2Xfixpe7lce a day. — Our Citi- 
zens are our Soldiers — whofe Jlandards are unfurled, 
and whofe arms glitter, in the full meridian blaze of 

FREEDOM. 

Our armories and arfenals are, hke the " Temple of 
Janus^^ fhut; but like the Caravanfaries of the Eaft — 
they hold accommodation fufficient, for every defenfive 
and appropriate purpofe. 

Ading, as bearing the " image and fuperfcription" 
of ;?/^;z— of your god^ you will ever exercife humanity: 

Never to be the caufe of woe — 
Or caufe unhallowed tears to flow. 

Be ardent in your military emulation ! be brave ! be 
ever worthy the name oi soldier /—What do I behold ? 
the warm crimfon mounting the cheek, and the pearly 
tear ftarting from the eye ! — It is a grateful compli- 
ment paid to your abfent General^ the good foldier^ the 
worthy Hull ! Yes, never yields but to the importu- 
nity of expedience- — never retreat^ but from the dan- 
ger of doing wrong — never be reludant in an honour- 



24 

able caufe, nor deficient in the defence of injured Vir- 
tue^ or injured i^/g-to — ^No ! Stand firm to yoMv pojis: — 
keep the Eagle's eye in your ranks ; — his plumage as 
your ornaments : — and his fpread wings to Jhield your 
virtues from ajfailants : — and march ye forward^ in the 
pathway of Glory, carrying refiftance to every obfta- 
cle that would oppofe your advancement. In one 
word;— be ever Citizen Soldier S'-zud the God ofannies 
and battles ever be with rou^ — and ever afford rou 
his Blessing. 



FINIS. 



Ja. 









LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




011 782 931 5 









ccKc: 


c 


" vC<lC<?X^ 


a:c«ic 


c 


■'- V Cl<2C(S5^'<HC 


PS 


c 


~ «.CiC. <rc:( '^'i^n 




c:< 




(T C4^ *. 


ir- 


c r:c:^>(^i^ 



^c:^ 



-^?^<^rT' 









<£<S<'K5l 



^<aK 















l:««i 






^E^^^S^I^ 






<C_<: 



^^r.^^*<..^cl^?a^^5^^<:< 









